Bringing Good Luck to your Husband in the 70s - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Sister-in-law Not Having Enough to Eat

When they saw Su Yue coming over, the third daughter-in-law’s eyes flickered guiltily. Too embarrassed to speak to her, she quickly turned back into her own kitchen.

Su Yue didn’t mind. She walked straight into the main kitchen, where Old Lady Han was preparing food for lunch.

Su Yue tied on an apron and rolled up her sleeves. “Auntie, let me handle this. You help me light the fire.”

Old Lady Han, never one to stand on ceremony with her, gladly put down the dishes in her hands. “Alright. Your cooking is far better than mine and much more delicious. Today, you’ll be in charge, and I’ll be your helper.”

“Okay~” Su Yue glanced at the ingredients set out on the stove and noticed not only meat but also a fresh fish. Her eyes widened. “Wow, we’re eating well today! We even have fish!”

Old Lady Han chuckled. “I had Aimin buy the meat from the commune, and Han Aiguo caught the fish this morning in the river. Since today is the day the autumn grain is distributed, I thought we should celebrate properly.”

Su Yue wholeheartedly agreed. This was what she liked about Old Lady Han. Whenever the family’s circumstances allowed, she never held back. She would never let her family suffer; always ensuring that everyone ate well. Unlike most elderly people in the village, who were frugal to the point of stinginess, scrimping on every penny until their families were undernourished, sallow, and thin; Old Lady Han truly knew how to care for her children and grandchildren.

Su Yue also disliked stinginess when it came to food. To her, eating well was one of life’s greatest joys. If she had lived this way in other families, she would have been criticized endlessly, but Old Lady Han shared her outlook.

Looking over the vegetables, Su Yue spotted eggplant and loofah. She decided on loofah meatballs, pan-fried eggplant cakes, stewed eggs with minced meat, and sweet-and-sour fish for lunch.

Before long, the fragrance of food drifted out of the kitchen. Soon, a few small heads peeked timidly around the doorframe. Though Su Yue had her back turned, she could hear them swallowing, the sound impossible to ignore.

Turning around, she spotted three little faces peeking in, eyes fixed on the pot with longing expressions. Su Yue couldn’t help but laugh, and Old Lady Han also stifled a smile at their pitiful looks. She beckoned them over, asking Taohua, the eldest, “Has your mother prepared food yet?”

Though she stepped inside, Taohua’s gaze remained glued to the steaming pot. Trying to restrain her hunger, she answered softly, “My mother is cooking, but it’s not ready yet.”

Meanwhile, Maomao, the third son’s child, stuck a finger in his mouth as though pretending to chew meat. Coquettishly, he complained to his grandmother, “Grandma, I don’t want to eat my mother’s cooking. She never buys meat. It’s always just potatoes and cabbage! I want to eat meat~”

Though still small, his voice carried heavy resentment.

Little Xiaolei, the second son’s child, nodded in agreement. “I don’t want to eat my mother’s cooking either. She always burns the porridge, and we don’t even have rice!”

Taohua lowered her head, too afraid to speak. She and her elder sister were often left hungry, forced to work while going without food. At night, they were so hungry that they couldn’t sleep, but asking for more would only earn them scoldings.

Old Lady Han’s expression darkened. Living under the same roof, she had always suspected her daughters-in-law were miserly, but she hadn’t imagined they would be so heartless. Food was life, especially for children who needed to grow strong. Did they not think about how their husbands, doing hard labor every day, could survive without proper meals?

Those shallow-eyed women!

But the households had already been divided, and everyone was responsible for their own family. As a grandmother, she could not interfere in her sons’ domestic affairs, or else she would be accused of meddling. Still, she resolved to find time to talk with her second and third sons. Their wives must not deprive the children of food.

Su Yue felt pity for the little ones but, as an outsider, she could not directly criticize. So she cautiously asked, “Auntie, should we cook a little extra and let the children eat with us?”

Old Lady Han almost agreed but stopped herself. It wasn’t that she lacked compassion, but she feared setting a precedent. If she fed them today, their mothers might push them to come every day, leaving her to raise them. She had already declared she would not raise her sons’ children after the split.

After some thought, she said, “I cooked plenty today. Once everything is done, let’s fill two bowls and send them to the second and third households. The children should at least taste some meat and fish.”

Su Yue agreed. When the dishes were ready, she filled two porcelain bowls to the brim and handed one to Taohua. “Take this home to your mother.”

The little girl’s face lit up. She held the bowl carefully with both hands, thanking Su Yue excitedly. “Thank you, Aunt Yueyue.”

Su Yue patted her head gently. “Be careful on the way.”

Taohua carried the bowl like treasure and led her younger brother Xiaolei home.

Meanwhile, Maomao stretched out his little hands, trying to grab the second bowl. “Mine, mine! I’ll take it!”

Seeing that he could hardly walk straight, Su Yue didn’t trust him with hot food. Instead, she handed the bowl to Han Aiguo. “You’d better deliver this one. Maomao isn’t steady.”

Han Aiguo nodded, briefly brushing Su Yue’s cheek in a discreet gesture no one noticed, except Maomao, who was too busy drooling over the food to understand. Su Yue shot Han Aiguo a mock glare before turning back to the stove.

Han Aiguo chuckled and left with Maomao to deliver the food.

When he returned, the family gathered at the square table for lunch. With the household divided, only four remained in the old home: Old Lady Han, Su Yue, Han Aiguo, and Aimin.

Aimin ate heartily, grease glistening on his lips. He was overjoyed. Ever since Su Yue had entered their lives, everything felt brighter. There was always delicious food, and life seemed worth celebrating. He couldn’t fathom why his third sister-in-law had insisted on splitting off. Life would have been far better if they had all stayed together.

No matter. He would stick to Sister Su Yue like glue from now on. What a pity she wasn’t truly his sister and couldn’t live with them always.

The thought gave him an idea. Looking at Su Yue with admiration, he suggested sincerely, “Sister Su Yue, how about I recognize you as my god-sister, and Mother accepts you as her goddaughter? Then you can live with us, and we’ll eat your cooking every day.”

Su Yue chuckled, casting Han Aiguo a teasing glance.

But Han Aiguo’s face darkened. “No!” he said flatly.

Han Aimin blinked in confusion. “Why not? Sister Su Yue has no relatives here. How pitiful. If she joins our family, I can take care of her. If she marries in the future, I’ll protect her so no one can bully her.”

Amused and touched, Su Yue asked playfully, “And if Sister Su Yue’s husband bullies her, what would you do?”

Han Aimin raised his fist, flexing his arm muscles. “I’ll beat him until he can’t get up!”

Han Aiguo’s expression grew even darker. Who was this brat threatening to beat?

Su Yue pressed her lips together to stifle a laugh.

Old Lady Han, however, burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.

Han Aimin looked bewildered. “What? What did I say wrong? Mother, why are you laughing?”

Poking him on the head, Old Lady Han scolded affectionately, “You fool. You follow your brother and Su Yue around every day and still haven’t noticed anything?”

“What?” Han Aimin scratched his head. “Why are you calling me a fool again? What’s going on?”

Sighing, Old Lady Han asked, “Do you not want Su Yue as your sister-in-law? That would make her even closer than a sister.”

Han Aimin blinked. “But… my second and third brothers are already married.”

Han Aiguo’s face turned black as thunder. “Do you only have a second and third brother?”

Han Aimin froze, then suddenly widened his eyes, staring between his eldest brother and Su Yue in shock. “Big brother, you and Sister Su Yue…?”

Grinding his teeth, Han Aiguo asked coldly, “What? Do you think there’s something wrong with that?”

Han Aimin dropped his chopsticks in shock. “No way… Really? Sister Su Yue, are you and my brother in love?”

Su Yue smiled faintly, her silence an admission.

Old Lady Han smacked her son’s head again. “Stupid boy! Even I could see it, and you didn’t notice a thing.”

It took Han Aimin a long while to process the truth. His brother was nearly thirty, so much older than Su Yue, that he had never considered the possibility. But once it sank in, excitement replaced shock. His eyes shone. “Then Sister Su Yue will be my sister-in-law! She’ll really be part of our family! That’s wonderful!”

Seeing his joy, Han Aiguo finally relaxed, his mood improving. This brat wasn’t hopeless after all.

Su Yue, watching the shift in his expression, couldn’t help but laugh.

—-

That afternoon, with no work in the fields, Su Yue stayed to help Old Lady Han make cakes. Han Aiguo lent a hand while Hehua tended the fire.

Since they could no longer sell cakes in town, they didn’t need to make as many. Old Lady Han was relieved as half a day’s work was enough, leaving time for house chores. She regretted only that she no longer earned as much money. At least they had savings, and the earnings from cake-making had covered Han Aiguo’s medical treatments.

Still, she fretted over his marriage prospects. Yueyue was such a good girl; they mustn’t let her down. A proper marriage required a respectable betrothal gift: at least a sewing machine, other essentials, and enough for a banquet. It would be a considerable sum, so she needed to prepare in advance.

Su Yue, unaware of Old Lady Han’s worries, focused on her baking. Soon, the first batch of cakes came out of the oven. Old Lady Han began placing them into a basket when a loud stomach growl echoed through the kitchen.

Everyone froze, and then turned toward Hehua, crouched behind the stove. Her face flushed crimson as she bit her lip in shame, wishing she could disappear.

“Hehua, are you hungry?” Old Lady Han asked quickly. “Didn’t you eat enough at lunch?”

Hesitating, Hehua lowered her head and nodded faintly.

Old Lady Han frowned. “Why not? I gave you a big bowl of meat. Did your mother not let you eat it?”

Hehua remained silent, shaking her head.

Old Lady Han’s voice hardened. “Don’t lie to me. Tell the truth. Did your mother take it away?”

Su Yue knelt down beside the girl, offering her a warm cake. “Here, eat this first. Aunt Yueyue will make you a bowl of noodles later, alright?”

Hehua’s eyes brimmed with tears. Finally, she whispered, “I didn’t even get a piece of meat. I only ate half a bowl of sweet potato porridge. Mother gave all the meat to my brother.”

Old Lady Han’s face turned livid. “Not even a bite for you and Taohua?”

Hehua sobbed. “Mother said it’s a waste for girls to eat meat. I gave half my porridge to Taohua since she was still hungry.”

Furious, Old Lady Han stormed out of the kitchen. “I’ll speak to that daughter-in-law myself! Are my granddaughters not human?”

Neither Su Yue nor Han Aiguo stopped her. They, too, were enraged. They had known Han’s second daughter-in-law was biased, but this went beyond reason.

Su Yue pressed the cake into Hehua’s hands. “Eat, quickly.”

The girl sniffled and ate gratefully.

moments later, angry voices echoed outside of Old Lady Han berating her daughter-in-law, who defended herself stubbornly. “What good is it for girls to eat meat? It’s better to give it to their brother, just as we did before!”

Su Yue felt stifled, sickened by such words. At the doorway, she found Taohua crying helplessly, and gently led her away.

“Don’t cry. Come to the kitchen with Aunt Yueyue,” she whispered.

The girl nodded, clinging to her. Once inside, she flung herself into Hehua’s arms, sobbing, “Sister…”

Su Yue’s heart ached. She handed them each two cakes, urging them to eat.

Watching the girls devour their food hungrily filled her with sorrow and anger. Han Aiguo’s expression was equally grim as he silently washed his hands. “I’m going to find Second Brother,” he said.

Su Yue didn’t stop him. She also wanted to ask that man how he could allow such cruelty to his own daughters.

Turning back, she said gently, “You two keep the fire going. Aunt Yueyue will make you a bowl of noodles with pork.”

The sisters’ eyes lit up, and they nodded eagerly.

Using leftover pork from lunch, Su Yue mixed dough, cut it into thin noodles, and cooked them in boiling water. Adding shredded pork and seasonings, she soon had two steaming bowls ready.

At her signal, Hehua and Taohua sat down with wide eyes and happily devoured the noodles, finally tasting the warmth of being cared for.

Translator’s Food Notes:-

Loofah Meatballs:-

Pan-Fried Eggplant Cakes:-

Stewed Eggs with Minced Meat:- 

Sweet-and-Sour Fish:-